Cajas National Park tour: Private hikes, two ecosystems

The park holds two completely different landscapes stacked one above the other, and you walk through both in the same afternoon.

A private tour from Cuenca to Cajas National Park, 32 kilometers west, with hotel pickup and a professional guide who leads hikes at two elevations: the middle section at 3,960 meters through Polylepis forests and moorland, and the lower section near Llaviuco at 3,150 meters in primary mountain forest. The tour runs seven to eight hours and includes lunch at a restaurant in the park. You choose the hiking duration at each stop. A live guide speaks English or Spanish, and children from age five are welcome with at least one adult per booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. El Cajas National Park7h
2. Turi Viewpoint20m

Visit Cajas National Park and Turi Viewpoint

• Pick up from accommodations
• Drive 1 hour to Cajas National Park
• Walk at Toreadora area, 3,960 meters
• See Andean scenery and Polylepis forests
• Learn about moorland vegetation
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Llaviuco area, 3,150 meters
• Walk around lake for 1.5 hours
• Visit Turi Viewpoint for city panorama

The experience

The drive from Cuenca takes about an hour, and the guide picks you up at your hotel in the morning. Once inside the park, you start at the middle elevation where the landscape is open moorland dotted with Polylepis trees: a high-altitude forest that looks nothing like what most travelers expect. You walk as long as you want at this stop, and the guide explains the vegetation and the ecology as you move. The Andean mountain scenery spreads out around you the whole time.

Lunch happens at a restaurant in the park zone, so you eat without leaving the area. Afterward you head to the lower section near Llaviuco, which sits at 3,150 meters in a different ecosystem entirely: primary mountain forest, thicker and more enclosed than the moorland above. You walk around the lake for about an hour and a half, or less if you prefer to cut it short. The two sections show you how dramatically the landscape changes with just 800 meters of elevation.

The tour ends with a stop at Turi Viewpoint on the way back to Cuenca, where you get a panoramic view of the city spread across the Cañari de Guapondeleg valley. Hotel drop-off is included. If you book the private option, the itinerary is built around what you want: the pace, the stops, the time spent at each lake. Group tours run the same route but with a fixed schedule and the option to add or skip lunch.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cuenca.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• lunch at a park restaurant (included in the group tour with lunch and private tour options).
• all hiking activities and access to both sections of the park.
• private vehicle transport.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour for a group, lunch not includedGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30A great choice for people who would rather bring or buy their own food directly. Pickup is included.

Group tour with a local lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Group tour with lunch: a special option for those who enjoy trying a tasty meal at a local restaurant. Pickup is included.

Private tourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Private tour: a special tour arranged to your requirements, with the pickup time and other details up to you. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 26 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Polylepis Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the itinerary built around your pace and preferences: how long to spend at each elevation, which hikes to take. The group tours run a fixed schedule, which keeps costs lower but locks in the timing. Pick the one with lunch if you don't want to pay separately for a meal in the park.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

How much actual hiking is involved in this tour?

You walk at two different elevations: the middle section at 3,960 meters through moorland and Polylepis forest, where you choose how long to stay, and the lower section near Llaviuco at 3,150 meters around a glacial lake for roughly an hour and a half or less if you prefer. The guide adjusts the pace to your fitness level.

What's the difference between the two parts of Cajas National Park I'll see?

The middle elevation at 3,960 meters is open moorland with scattered Polylepis trees and wide views of the Andean peaks. The lower section at 3,150 meters is primary mountain forest, a thicker ecosystem around a glacial lake. You experience two completely different landscapes in one tour.

Is lunch included, and can I get a vegetarian meal?

Lunch at a restaurant in the park zone is included in the group tour with lunch option and in the private tour. The group tour without lunch excludes it. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know when you book if you need one.

How long does the whole tour take, and when do I get picked up?

The tour runs seven to eight hours total, including the one-hour drive from Cuenca, both hikes, lunch and the stop at Turi Viewpoint. Hotel pickup happens in the morning and drop-off is included at the end of the day.